Government Sets Detailed 'Formula' to Soothe Dissatisfied Labors

Liputan6.com, Jakarta Labor wage is a problem not uncommon in many discussions. Contesting opinions continue to dominate debate arena on an annual basis with topics primarily focused on the revision of labors’ salary which is purposely designed to meet the standard of what has been implemented by the government as well as to fulfill the workers’ demand where appropriate.

In this particular matter, three actors play similarly vital role in determining the appropriate estimation for labors’ wage. They are, the government, companies or businessmen and the workers themselves.

But surely wanting the best of all worlds by appropriating the wants and needs of all three actors will be very difficult to attain. Rage amidst surge of labors is becoming more evident each year, with them conducting strikes escalating in number of frequency and messages signaling their disappointment towards the government becoming more vivid than ever.

Little that these workers now, the government itself is facing scores of tumult internally trying to achieve the national economic goals of President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla. On one side, it is unquestionable that many feel that the salary given is not in any way a rational payoff for the efforts that the government or the companies put them through, on the other hand, it also cannot be denied that Indonesia’s economic growth was severely hindered in the second quarter of this year due to various factors which some are not ignited by them and evidently out of their hands. Expectation of 5,7% growth as has been desired initially has to be relieved due to many hindrances and thus the country is insisted to accept growth of only 4,67% thus far.

The government refuses to give up on addressing economic issue and such ambition was translated into the creation of 5 policies which will be followed by another one with each designed to specifically tackle those hindrances to its very core.

Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs, Darmin Nasution shared on October 15 2015 claiming that the freshly announced and thoroughly formulated policies will be used as justification and the benchmark for all labor wage calculations at provincial level in the years to come.

In details, these policies suggest the calculation of minimum wage payment being complemented with the estimated percentage of inflation rate as well as the growth of national economy.

“For example, if inflation rate detected to be 5% and the economic growth similarly 5%, then next year they will be given an extra 10% in addition to the wage yielded,” Darmin explained.

According to Darmin, such standardized formula is an evidence enough to show government’s effort to put justice and fairness into play. He thinks that it is highly necessitated for the population to learn the fact that the nation cannot be compared to other countries every now and then.

This is because not every country applies the same rule and those are created in accordance to the condition of its own economy at the current stance, demographics, geographical location, political and socio- economic condition at its inherent root and many other equally determinant factors. Therefore, components deemed necessitated for the calculation of labors wage are also managed differently. (Akp/Rie)